Revenge or Belt? Umar Nurmagomedov Sets Priorities Straight for Future

Khabib Nurmagomedov's protege, Umar Nurmagomedov, talks about getting his revenge against Merab Dvalishvili in the future.

Revenge or Belt? Umar Nurmagomedov Sets Priorities Straight for Future

Umar Nurmagomedov prefers revenge over Merab Dvalishvili for the UFC belt (via X)

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In January at UFC 311, Umar Nurmagomedov faced Merab Dvalishvili for the bantamweight championship. The Dagestani fighter entered the Octagon as the betting favorite, carrying huge expectations, but lost the bout via unanimous decision. The ‘Machine’ dominated Nurmagomedov throughout the fight and completely humiliated him in front of the legendary Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Following the bout, Nurmagomedov revealed that he sustained an injury during the fight, which significantly impacted his overall performance. However, Dvalishvili dismissed the claims as mere excuses, openly mocking the Dagestani fighter multiple times in interviews and on social media. 

Since then, tensions between the two athletes have intensified greatly, and fans eagerly anticipate an inevitable title rematch between these rivals. In a recent interview, Nurmagomedov expressed his determination, emphasizing that defeating Dvalishvili remains his top priority before pursuing anything else.

If I will choose (between the belt and a rematch with Dvalishvili), maybe revenge I want more. We’ll see. Maybe he’s going to take some rest after this fight (with Yan). It’s his fourth fight of the year. It’s not easy. But I want to fight in January or February. It’s going to depend on what the UFC says… He has to talk that he’s going to destroy me. We’ll have to see. I can talk whatever I want, and what? Anybody can talk.

Umar Nurmagomedov via MMA Junkie

Nurmagomedov is set to face Mario Bautista on the main card of UFC 321, scheduled to happen in Abu Dhabi. Heading into the matchup, the Dagestani is the betting favorite and could move closer to another potential title opportunity. However, experts, including former champion Aljamain Sterling, believe Nurmagomedov must secure a few additional victories before earning redemption.

Dvalishvili has already defended his bantamweight title three times this year, proving unmatched consistency inside the UFC Octagon. He is now scheduled for a fourth title defense at UFC 323, aiming to break the record for most defenses in a single year. If victorious, Dvalishvili has promised to face Nurmagomedov again, confidently claiming the rematch would be much easier.

Umar Nurmagomedov talks about living under Khabib Nurmagomedov’s shadow 

Following Khabib Nurmagomedov’s retirement, he focused entirely on coaching, guiding his teammates to reach their full potential in MMA greatness. Islam Makhachev, Usman, and Umar Nurmagomedov were his closest students, each representing Dagestan’s strength and discipline at the highest level.

Umar Nurmagomedov and Khabib Nurmagomedov
Umar Nurmagomedov and Khabib Nurmagomedov (via X)

Makhachev and Usman have held championship titles in different promotions, consistently proving their dominance and maintaining the Nurmagomedov legacy. Umar had a chance to join the champions’ club, but unfortunately failed in his title bout against Merab Dvalishvili. Both Khabib and Umar were deeply disappointed as their combined undefeated streak came to an end, marking a rare setback.

The ‘Eagle’ was a force of nature inside the Octagon, and many fans expect the same from other Nurmagomedov cousins. In a recent interview, Umar revealed the immense pressure of carrying the Nurmagomedov name, describing both its inspiring and challenging sides.

You know, it’s very hard being compared to Khabib. Everyone looks at him and, for us, his teammates and his family, me and Usman, very hard to show same performances. He’s different. I don’t know from where, but he has different power and everything. Everybody thinks we’re gonna show same fights, destroy our opponents. This doesn’t always happen.

Umar Nurmagomedov continued.

However, their connection to Khabib Nurmagomedov has also helped them in gaining a fan following throughout the world. According to the ‘Machine,’ Umar was pushed by the UFC because of his relationship with the Dagestani legend.

Umar Nurmagomedov is currently ready for his upcoming fight and wants to bounce back stronger with a finish. It would be interesting to see how long it will take him to get the chance to avenge his loss against Dvalishvili finally. 

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